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Mine is a mostly red neighborhood in a blue county in a very blue state. Political lawn signs and bumper stickers are considered in poor taste, or they were until a month ago a when a neighbor threw an Obama fundraiser featuring Joe Biden. That drew a brief fusillade of McCain-Palin signs until the neighborhood recovered its dignity, which evaporated again in the unusually-crowded line at the poll this morning.

With a bit of tension in the air, Obama supporters were wearing it on their sleeves, literally, with one sporting a "Geezer-Dingbat" T-shirt and a cryptic "Cabo Wabo Open" hat. He was shunned, even by obvious Obama supporters, while McCain people sported discreet American flag buttons and grim looks. Interestingly, only one person in line said he was voting differently (for Obama) than he usually did.

Outside the entrance to the polling place sat the customary greeting tables: two middle-aged white ladies at the Democrat table and an older African-American gentleman at the Republican table. The former were surrounded by a constant crowd of animated women, while the latter wore a McCain-Palin jacket and handed out flag pins and the occasional "Why We Vote Republican" leaflet. Inside, schoolchildren sold Hillary (raisin) and Laura Bush (chocolate chip) cookies.

It seems even the kids are confused about who's actually on the ballot this year.

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